Overview

• Canada has announced a cap on the number of international study permits to be issued each year, reducing the number by about 35% compared to 2023, in an effort to alleviate pressures on housing, health care, and other services.
• The new limit is expected to be around 360,000 permits, with the restriction to be in place for two years and re-evaluated at the end of this year.
• British Columbia has also frozen approvals of new colleges and universities seeking to enrol foreign students until February 2026, setting higher standards for degree quality, labour market needs, and language requirements for private institutions.
• Despite these measures, economists predict that the impact on the economy will be marginal and rental rates are not expected to decrease significantly, but may grow at a slower pace.
• Concerns have been raised about the exploitation of foreign students by low-quality, profit-oriented institutions, with the new measures aimed at protecting students and ensuring the quality of education.